A Look at 10 of the Top Tutoring Franchises
As kids go back to school this fall 2022, many of them will need help catching up after a summer away from books and homework. Although teachers are ready to instruct and inspire, getting students back into learning mode is no easy task. This has been especially true in the past couple years. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, children’s education has been impacted by school closures, masking and distance learning. The challenges of the pandemic made it difficult for students to learn effectively and has set them back. According to a July 2021 McKinsey & Company report, K-12 students were on average behind five months in math and four months in reading. A study of test scores from 5.4 million American students conducted by Brown University shows that reading and math scores fell for third to eighth grade students when compared to scores from fall 2019.
Students who have fallen behind can catch up with the services of a tutoring franchise. Unlike traditional schools with classes full of 20-30 students, students benefit from personalized curricula based on individual needs and learning styles. Even before the pandemic, tutoring franchises had a growing demand. According to market research and advisory company Technavio, the private tutoring sector in the U.S. will grow by $8.37 billion by 2025. But is a tutoring franchise a good investment? With great support and training from franchisors, investors don’t need an education degree to impact children’s lives positively. Here’s a look at 10 of the top tutoring franchises.
Top Tutoring Franchises
Mathnasium
The Mathnasium franchise takes an individualized, fun approach to teaching math. The math tutoring franchise was founded in 2002 by Peter Markovitz and David Ullendorff, two pioneers in the education industry. They understood that having strong math skills opens doors to great opportunities. Over time, Mathnasium has grown to 950 locations in the U.S. and hundreds more around the globe. Entrepreneurs are attracted to Mathnasium’s affordable startup costs, feel-good service, and simple business model. The ideal instructors are high school or college students. Since franchise owners receive support and training from the franchisor, there’s no need for a math degree or prior teaching experience to run the business successfully.
Class 101
Class 101 is a college planning franchise with a mission to help high school students achieve their full potential by preparing them for secondary education. It does this by mentoring students in finding ideal universities and getting scholarships. Thomas Pabin (above), a financial advisor turned entrepreneur, founded Class 101 in 1997. As a youth minister, Pabin discovered that he wanted to work with and guide young people. Since its founding, Class 101 has assisted thousands of students. Franchise owners have three options: single owner; a team franchise, which has two planners; and educational centers, or multiple planners. While Class 101 franchise owners don’t have traditional tutoring services, they help students build good studying habits and prepare them for the ACT and SAT with workshops. Class 101 is part of the Unleashed Brands family of franchises, along with Snapology, The Little Gym and Premier Martial Arts. The ideal franchisee candidate is organized, has strong communication skills, and enjoys working with teens. Business hours start mid-morning and end around 7 p.m. The workload peaks during the fall.
Tutor Doctor
The Tutor Doctor franchise was built on the idea that all children can learn in their own way. Students who attend the tutoring franchise are matched with a tutor who can work with the individual’s specific needs and build curricula around them. Tutor Doctor was founded in 2000 and opened its first franchise location in 2005. Tutor Doctor went international with a location in the United Kingdom in 2008. Over time, the tutoring franchise has grown to more than 700 territories operating in 16 countries. Franchisees can expect an initial investment of $73,295 to $100,995. Benefits include flexibility and low startup costs, a home-based model, quick startup time, and strong corporate leadership. The franchisor provides in-depth assistance to franchisees in their first year by helping them set biweekly objectives, recruiting tutors, and marketing their business.
Above Grade Level
Above Grade Level is a tutoring franchise that provides in-home instruction in English, math, and more. The tutoring franchise’s materials and programs, which were designed by an experienced team of experts, are personalized, updated and revised to ensure the best results possible for students. These programs include the super readers’ program, lil’ math whiz program, enrichment and summer programs, exam prep, and more. Above Grade Level also specializes in physics and calculus. With a proven system, entrepreneurs can feel good about investing in a tutoring franchise with more than two decades of experience. Above Grade Level works with E-2 Visa holders, which is an incentive for international investors.
College Nannies Sitters and Tutors
The College Nannies Sitters and Tutors franchise is a full-service, family-focused staffing firm. Franchise owners place nannies, babysitters, and tutors with families who need them. No prior childcare or tutoring experience is needed to run the business. Ideal candidates include entrepreneurs who love working with kids, corporate refugees tired of the 9-5 grind, and people working towards retirement. Franchisees with College Nannies Sitters and Tutors offer in-demand services across multiple revenue streams. College Nannies care for children regularly; College Sitters care for children who need occasional supervision; and College Tutors work with students who need extra help with their schoolwork. Families appreciate that all caregivers and tutors are vetted. The tutoring franchise offers third-party financing options, typically through FranFund.
Omega Learning
The Omega Learning franchise is a one-stop shop for educational services. Franchisees benefit from a flexible schedule, exclusive software and a proprietary curriculum. In addition to providing a recession-proof, feel-good service, franchise owners can appreciate being able to give back to the community. They’ll also enjoy the fact that Omega Learning is only open four days a week and is the first tutoring franchise to be accredited by Cognia, a non-profit accreditation agency. All teachers who work at Omega and teach K-8 students are also accredited. Franchise owners can expect an initial investment of $115,863 – $231,506, and can have a center open in as little as three to six months.
Tutoring Club
The Tutoring Club franchise provides academic assistance to children of all ages and abilities. The tutoring business was founded in 1991 and began offering franchises in 2000. Tutoring Club has more than 70 locations across the U.S. and around the world. This passive ownership opportunity allows franchisees to pursue other ventures as they run a tutoring business. Aspiring franchisees are attracted to Tutoring Club’s affordable startup costs, proven model, and the opportunity to have a great work-life balance. Veterans receive a discount on the initial franchise fee.
Huntington Learning Center
Huntington Learning Center is one of the biggest names in the education industry. The tutoring franchise was founded in 1977 by Dr. Raymond and Eileen Huntington to help struggling students. Huntington is known for its process of evaluating every student, developing a customized lesson plan, executing it, and informing parents about the student’s progress. Subjects taught at the tutoring center are phonics, writing, mathematics, the sciences, study skills, and more. According to Huntington’s website, students who receive 50 hours of tutoring in math and reading see an increase of up to two grade levels. With great support and training, franchisees don’t need any prior educational experience. To make business ownership more affordable, Huntington offers in-house financing.
Kumon
Kumon is a tutoring franchise that focuses on reading and math. It was founded in 1955 by Toru Kumon, a high school math teacher in Japan. Kumon got the idea to start a tutoring business after making special worksheets for his son to improve his math skills. These math worksheets were short and got incrementally harder over time to ensure maximum understanding of the concept. This self-learning method is at the heart of Kumon’s curriculum. Since franchising in 1958, Kumon has helped millions of students in 50 countries. Unlike traditional schools, tutors at Kumon don’t move on until the student comprehends the concept. Franchisees will receive $36,400 in incentives to open a center; the initial investment ranges between $68,000-$145,640; and the franchise fee is $2,000. Rents are also reimbursed 50% for the first 12 months, up to $1,000 a month. The primary signage, furniture, and fixtures are free. The franchisor also splits the cost of $4,000 of local marketing in the first three months and waives fees toward the marketing program until the fifth and sixth months.
Sylvan Learning
While Sylvan Learning is famous for its SAT and ACT test-preparatory services, the tutoring franchise offers K-12 instruction and a variety of career and test prep. Sylvan was founded in Portland, Ore., in 1979 and began franchising in 1980. The tutoring franchise’s Sylvan Method was developed through years of research and experience. With this proprietary system, children learn with the help of technology and a personalized plan. Parents appreciate that their children take the Sylvan Insight Assessment, which gives tutors a deeper understanding of how the student learns. The company’s Sylvan Guarantee shows that it’s serious about improving students’ grades and keeping parents informed. Sylvan charges a flat 16% royalty rate, which covers marketing, online and in-person resources, and corporate support.